PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cesar Gandini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brantley Cermak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gandini
vs
Cermak

188 cm
21
156 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cesar Gandini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brantley Cermak!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Damien Edna and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cermak gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gandini to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cermak looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Gandini not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gandini's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Gandini throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gandini looking to pass the guard.
Gandini is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gandini really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cermak seems keen to control Gandini's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Cesar Gandini just wasn't active enough.

Gandini looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gandini passes to side control.
Gandini tries to advance to mount but Cermak denies him.
Gandini controlling the position.
Gandini tries to move to mount but Cermak blocks the move with his legs.
Gandini will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gandini is chipping away with strikes.

Gandini thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gandini happy to just control the position for now.
You can see the frustration on Cermak's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gandini is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Cermak's shoulder. That is not cool.
Cermak tries to improve position but can't.
Cermak is being controlled here.
Gandini prevents Cermak from escaping the position.
Cermak is looking for a sweep.
Gandini controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Cesar Gandini just wasn't active enough.
Gandini shoots in and drives through. Cermak sprawls well.
Gandini slaps away a takedown attempt from Cermak, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Gandini shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cermak manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gandini sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cermak trying to control the position.

Cermak has his foot on Gandini's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gandini works his way back into a safe position though.
Gandini slips nicely into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gandini wants to pass to mount but Cermak is defending the position.
Gandini not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cesar Gandini dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gandini scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Cermak trying to remain calm as Gandini controls from the top position.
Cermak wants to control but Gandini postures up.
Gandini tries to move into full mount but can't pass Cermak's legs.
Gandini controlling from side mount.
Gandini has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cermak wants to get back to his feet but Gandini is dominant here and he's now got Cermak's back!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Cesar Gandini overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gandini is not going to allow Cermak to sit and survive in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Gandini controlling the positon.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Gandini.
What can Cermak do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gandini seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Cermak for as long as he can get away with.

Cesar Gandini has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Gandini looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gandini moves nicely into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cermak is being controlled here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cermak can do anything to dispel that myth.
You can see the frustration on Cermak's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gandini controls the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Cesar Gandini wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Gandini shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gandini prevents Cermak from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cesar Gandini dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Gandini shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cermak defends it nicely.
Cermak fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gandini avoids it really well and circles away.

Gandini looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gandini passes Cermak's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gandini stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Cesar Gandini.
Gandini will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cermak fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gandini keeps the fight on the outside.
Brantley Cermak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gandini is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cermak's half guard.
Gandini is keen to just control but Cermak is a slippery customer.
Cermak wants to improve his position but Gandini is controlling well.
Well, if Gandini is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Cermak keeping control of the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Cesar Gandini wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Cermak slaps away a takedown attempt from Gandini, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cesar Gandini. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gandini looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cermak misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Gandini shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gandini showed some decent athleticism there.

Cermak actively working from the bottom here.
Cesar Gandini is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cermak is looking to improve his position.
Cermak looks like he's trying to stand up.
Cermak trying to control here.
Gandini controlling the action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cesar Gandini showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gandini has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cesar Gandini!
Cesar Gandini seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.